Posts in: Recommended

$2000 Tax Credit Available to New Home Builders First I should say that the industry of HERS Raters did NOT ask for it to be renewed. We have instead been lobbying for new tax credit legislation which offers more money and more flexibility. This tax credit should have...

Prescriptive Path This path is the simplest to follow and is where most builders will find the easiest compliance option. As the name implies, this path follows the letter of the code like a doctor’s prescription. Install the insulation to the levels in Table...

Introduction to the new Michigan Energy Code for 2015: Part 1 Effective Date: February 8, 2016 This means that all new homes and some additions and renovations permitted AFTER February 8, 2016 must comply with these new code standards. This new code contains some HUGE...

If you’ve been around the building industry for the last twenty years or so, you’ve seen plywood being used less and Oriented Strand Board (OSB) being used more for sheathing on walls, roofs, and sub-floors. It’s widespread use has not been without...

Building a new home can be a daunting and expensive process. In a typical new home build, there can be over thirty subcontractors, more than a dozen different suppliers, a stack of permits and inspection checklists, and so many finishing detail choices that it’s...

Do I need to insulate the basement? Current building codes require foundations to be insulated. Conventional thinking was that foundations did not need to be insulated since they are primarily below grade and not subjected to the full load of outdoor temperatures....